Thursday, August 28, 2008

Somewhat inspired by the list fun seen on another blog and the upcoming Slow Food Nation festival in San Francisco this weekend, I ran into a post on the blog Very Good Taste of the "Omnivore's 100" of foods that every omnivore should try once in their life. I didn't do as well as I would have liked, but there's plenty of time, right? At least now I have this list to get focused. Instructions attached, so let me know how you guys do!

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

By my count 49 out of 100. Not terrible. Being chinese helped, I think (I actually might have tried some of that other stuff without knowing it). The only thing that I crossed out was the cigar because I don't smoke, but I respect the choice. I'm ready to tackle the list though, so let me know how you did, and we'll go eat some of this stuff together!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

It has been almost a month since I've been on vacation. How time flies. There are a few pictures that I really wanted to share, and really only took to put on the blog, so in true Patty and Selma style, let's rip off a quick vacation slide show...

The vacation was pretty food-centric, which sounds good until you are bursting at the seems. This is the Dairy Queen in Medford that kind of kicked off the week. Notice how happy we are eating our ice cream If we only knew what piggies we would become...

One of the more interesting thing was with different trade laws in Canada, we saw a lot of things they are available back home. Here's Hannah with a dragonfruit. You've all probably had the juice, but have you seen or cut into one of these things. Interestingly enough, the fruit is rather bland. So think about that the next time you spend $3 on dragonfruit ginseng natural organic tea.

Just as exciting, the chinese market we went to sold live sharks! I don't know how one would prepared these for dinner, but I would certainly look into attaching freaking lasers to their heads.

On a related note, walking around in Chinatown in Vancouver, there were tons of stores selling all sorts of dried goods. Dried shrimps, dried scallops, dried oysters....oh, and even...

...dried lizard on a stick. This is the 'money shot', so to speak, of the post. I don't have one idea what you do with that. Make soup? Dip it in chocolate? Leave a recipe in the comments if you can help me out. (not that i bought any, of course. Imagine how many more hours it would take me to cross the border if I had to sneak one of those things by the border guards)

The only cup of coffee I drank in Seattle. On top of the Space Needles good, but the low quantity bad. I'm usually pretty good at adapting to local customs (I spoke a lot more chinese while we were in Richmond, BC., where there are more asian malls than probably 45 states), but by the time I got around to buckling down and going for some coffee tasting, I ended up wandering the suburbs of Seattle on a Sunday night with no coffee. I did, however, find...

I just thought it was funny. Would I eat there? Ye-ah!

And finally, a quick thank you to one of my favorite Canadians Nicole (ranking up there with Ryan Reynolds, Michael J Fox, and maybe even Bullwinkle) for the tip of having lunch at Burgerville in Oregon. Two days after she left me a note to check it out, on the way home from eating entirely too much crap, we pulled off the freeway for lunch about 10 miles outside of Portland and found a recently opened Burgerville. It's a pretty cool place. The most eco-socio-conscious fast food place I have ever seen. All food is locally produced (well, the Northwest, Oregon beef, Walla Walla onions, etc), recycles practically everything, compost bin at all restaurants. Oh, the food is very good as well. I would show you, but I ate it WAY before the camera even made an appearance. The girls are happy to show off the balloons they gave them though.

Ok that's it. Vacation is long over. School is starting. Indian summer kicks in with a few more 95 degree days before fall rolls in. Maybe we'll start saving to go back to Vancouver when the Winter Olympics roll around in 2010. Next time though, better pacing on the eating, and less touring of the world's Chinatowns.....

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Vacation memories aside, we also returned to an important point in Britt's pregnancy. She had an ultrasound appointment on Thursday where the sex of the baby can be determined. We had gone the surprise route with our first two kids so we decide to try it the other way and find out. We had a lot of well wishers who was pulling for some balance in the family and hoped for a boy this time around, but it was not meant to be. Come Christmas time, we will welcome our third blessing into the world. As with the first two kids, the sex doesn't really matter. We are still very excited and look forward to her arrival. Now we are getting a lot of official offers from people who have a lot of hand-me-down dresses that they want to pass along. I am ok with that. People often want to find out so they can start planning and have everything ready. For me, it just gives me more time to think and wonder and worry whether I will have everything ready. I mean, I have no excuse to NOT be ready. I've known what was coming for five months! So prepare we will. Hannah and Sara are very excited about getting a new little sister, and want to be good little helpers to their mom. We'll see how long that lasts....

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Number of Canadian parking tickets my dad received: 1Number of Canadian parking tickets my dad plans to ignore until they come after him in this country: 1Number of hours it took to get into Canada: 0.4Number of hours it took to get back into the US: 4.5

Number of times my parents went to an Indian casino during our vacation: 5 (I think)Length of tantrum Sara threw when she realized there was only 1 "room" in the Space Needle: 20 mins

Number of Ichirolls that comes with each order: 8

Number of Ichiroll regurgitated by Sara when she found out it was spicy: 1

Minutes between meals: Felt like 5Pounds gained on trip: ???

Ugh, I still get a tummy ache looking at that...but one more look at a Canadian meal.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

There were times where I didn't think we would, but we made it home this afternoon safe and sound (but not all the way sane, I'm sure). After vacations come laundry, and lots of it. Then comes the collection of souvenir and pictures that were collected on the journey. I am too tired to really get into it, but here is a few to prove that pictures were taken. Pictures requiring a little explanation is forthcoming. A whole Flickr set will follow as well, for those of you who like the vacation slide show experience (without the Patty or Selma impressions). But for now. My vacation in 6 pictures:

That's probably enough for most of you. If that is the case. Come back in a week or two. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Monday, August 04, 2008

In a circle of life twist, I am here again at Motel 6 Medford, using the WiFi of the Travelodge next door. If there is one theme on this trip, it's WiFi still does not come easily or cheaply. I figured that a trip in today's age to major metropolitan areas, I would have little trouble getting a wee little bandwidth to keep me connected with the rest of you. That didn't turn out to be the case, which is too bad. I certainly failed in my attempts to provide a picture or two of amusement. There are plenty of pictures, don't you worry. On three different cameras and everything. So tomorrow night, when I finally get home, I will start sorting through both the pictures I have taken and the stories in my head, and hopefully, if laziness doesn't set in, you will be bored to death of endless recounts of the last 7 days. As with most vacations, there are goods and there are bads, there are hilariously funnies and hopelessly sads. I probably won't get to it all, but here's a preview (and a way to hold me to telling something stories):

- There wasn't much to day 5, except an excruciatingly long wait at the US border. I might never tell this story though. Just mentally put it in a dark place and never speak of it again.

- Then there was the search for coffee in day 6. You would think in the Seattle area this would be a short story. You would be SO wrong....

- More pictures of us eating than I care to admit to. I need some seriously physical activity when I get back to feel normal again.... a few more helpings of vegetable won't hurt either.

So hopefully, a quick, uneventful trip home tomorrow. (knocking on some serious wood) See you all on the other side...

Friday, August 01, 2008

So much for more stories when I get to Canada. I knew that I would no longer have regular cell coverage in Canada (the roaming fees are ridiculous, thanks Rogers wireless). That also means no Internet for me either (it IS possible to miss the EDGE network). I didn't think it would be so hard to find some Wifi somewhere though. The hotel I am staying in charges $6 for 24 hours, which I just couldn't justify (thank you unfriendly exchange rates). So here I am, happily going back to the States tomorrow, sitting in the parking lot of a motel down the street, borrowing their wifi (thank you Days Inn!).

Don't get me wrong, Vancouver is great. It even rained here like it should to give me an authentic experience. Apparently I am just not the kind if guy that can take one of those technology vacations. I feel like I am in the dark ages!! Rest assured there are plenty if pictures and stories. Depending on the line at the border, I'll be back in Seattle tomorrow afternoon. Until then, it's back to an unconnected world, and a not as useful phone in my pocket.

I better get going before the Days Inn employees hunt me down and kick me out....